McDonald’s Better Menu, a Little

According to report from Alliance for a Healthier Generation and the company that analyzes the U.S. market:

• McDonald’s USA sold 21 million more low-fat and fat-free milk jugs and 100% apple juice boxes in the first 11 months in Happy Meals and ala carte after removing the listing of sodas on the Happy Meal section of menu boards compared to the same period a year earlier (July 2014 to May 2015).
• McDonald’s USA sold 161 million tubes of Go-GURT® Low Fat Strawberry Yogurts (July 2014 to May 2015) and 38 million Cuties Clementines (Nov. 2014 to March 2015) in Happy Meals and ala carte.
• Since sodas were removed from the Happy Meal section of menu boards, the company has seen a nine percentage point increase in customers selecting milk and juice. Before the change, 37% of customers chose milk and juice; and after, the percentage increased to 46%. During the same period, the percentage of customers selecting soda decreased from 56% to 48%.
• McDonald’s USA did not offer a fruit, vegetable or salad option as a substitute for French fries in Extra Value Meals in 2014, but did offer this alternative beginning in January 2015. An independent survey found that 83% of McDonald’s restaurants were offering this new option by February 2015.
• In 2014, 14 Happy Meal boxes and bags dedicated a panel to a fun nutrition or children’s well-being message, exceeding the four that were required in order to fulfill the commitment.
• In 2014, McDonald’s USA included fun nutrition or children’s well-being messages in 100% of its external advertisements directed to children.

Soda, a point of progress, was at the center of McDonald’s announcement. But so was the problem with fruits and vegetables.

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A review of the company’s menu shows that it is still dominated by high-fat, high-calorie and high-salt food. Among items it sells are several sandwiches that have more than 700 calories, milkshakes with over 500 calories and breakfast items and coffees with 500 calories or more. The “big breakfast with hotcakes” has 1,090 calories and several McCafe coffees more than 300.

The progress is barely a start.